I was acting crazy in North America, and all the crazy people there took it seriously.

Chapter 214 Master, Master, Master of Masters (Two-in-One)

As the opening game of the "Prison BA" draws ever closer, Chicago seems to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, and the whole city is immersed in a long-lost, slightly frenzied happiness.

Once upon a time, they attracted national attention with a series of outrageous and outrageous actions, such as "fighting for the right to drink freely" and "private prisons illuminating the American disciplinary system," and touted themselves as pioneers leading America toward "progress."

Now, that familiar, trendsetting feeling is back!

Once again, Chicagoans can proudly declare that their city is the true "Land of Light," not only offering prisoners a chance for "redemption" but also shouldering the great mission of "reviving the American spirit"!

"Look! When all of America trembled in fear and confusion, who lit the torch of hope in the darkness? It was Chicago!"

"America desperately needs Chicago to step up again and turn the tide!"

This fervent sense of pride manifested itself in various acts of support throughout the streets and alleys—

Bars across the country are launching "Prison BA" themed cocktails:
"Black Panther's Fury" is made by mixing black rum with blue cura liqueur, resulting in a dark color and a strong taste.
"Optimus Prime Heart" is a mixture of various red spirits and grenadine syrup, symbolizing that "daredevil" heart;

"Four o'clock in the morning" involves pouring high-proof gin into espresso, resulting in a strange taste that is refreshing and invigorating.

Drinkers love to hold up these "motivational" drinks and cheer for the faction they support.

Shop windows are filled with souvenirs featuring popular prisoner numbers and team logos, ranging from T-shirts and hats to mugs, keychains, and even coffee cups printed with "Have you ever seen a prison at 4 a.m.?"—all part of the burgeoning souvenir economy.

As the birthplace of "Prison Basketball" and the largest participant (sending three teams, the Bulls, the Timberwolves, and the Warriors, representing the talented, the elite, and the poor respectively), the sense of identification among Chicago citizens was unprecedentedly strong.

A well-dressed office worker might be wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey under their shirt; a stylish modern woman might have a Grey Wolfs tattoo on her arm; and workers might openly wear T-shirts printed with "Technology Counterattack" to express their support for the populist movement... It has become a carnival for the entire city to participate in cosplay.

Like the Smith family, Mrs. Smith unsurprisingly supported the "talented" Bulls, while Mr. Smith unexpectedly supported the rebellious and wild "heroic" Timberwolves.

They had already decided to watch the opening game, but instead wore red and black Bulls jerseys and gray and white Timberwolves jerseys respectively, becoming a "harmonious contrast" in the stands.

On the day of the opening game, the American Dream Basketball Arena, which can accommodate 10,000 spectators, was packed with people and every seat was occupied.

The two participating teams—the Bulls and the Timberwolves—entered the stadium under the "escort" of a well-equipped security team.

To ensure the smooth running of the "Prison BA" event, Fox River Private Jail established a security company, whose employees are mostly veterans and former law enforcement officers.

At the same time, a system of collective punishment is implemented within the team: if one person attempts to "escape," the entire team's points will be reset to zero, and they will be severely punished.

More importantly, the Mafia and Irish gang behind Fox River gave all the participating players "words of advice" in advance:
"Dear friend, if you want to use the competition as an opportunity to escape from prison, please be prepared to be wanted and hunted down by the entire underworld."

Under the multiple shackles of supervision, temptation, and threats, no prisoner player has dared to entertain the idea of ​​escaping.

Stop gossiping.

The players, dressed in brand-new, stylish basketball uniforms, lined up neatly in the center of the court.

Raise the national flag and play the national anthem.

The ceremony at the "Prison BA" had to be as grand as possible. President Coolidge, accompanied by Chicago officials and Logan, appeared on the specially built stage, stood up and saluted like the audience, placed his hand on his chest, and watched the Stars and Stripes rise in the arena.

The president was very satisfied with this arrangement.

This patriotic ceremony helps to integrate the controversial "Prison BA" competition into the grand narrative of "national spiritual revitalization."

After the national anthem, President Coolidge stepped to the microphone, a rare, encouraging smile on his face, and delivered a brief but powerful speech:

"...Today, what we are witnessing here is more than just a basketball game. We are witnessing an indomitable will and the hope of rebirth! Within the iron fence, the dream never dies! This is the best embodiment of our American dream!"

He gestured towards the players lined up on the field, as if inspecting a special army:

"The 'Prison BA' proves to us all that even in the lowest points of life, in the deepest predicaments, the American spirit of never giving up and fighting hard still burns brightly! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the true, invincible American spirit!"

There was thunderous applause.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, the guests and audience members in the stands responded with enthusiastic applause.

Cameras in the media area flashed wildly, capturing the scene of "the president affirming the prison BA and boosting national morale."

However, standing in the solemn ranks of players, Leon Jordan, nicknamed "Black Panther," kept cursing inwardly, "Dreams? American spirit? To hell with the American spirit!"

He was arrested without any explanation and thrown into Fox River State Penitentiary simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, treated as an "illegal immigrant".

He played basketball not for some bullshit dream or American spirit, but initially just to have enough to eat and to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of prison.

His opportunity to stand in the spotlight today is entirely due to the fact that private prisons, driven by the lure of huge profits, have "dared to think and act" and created this absurd league. What does it have to do with the "American spirit"?

The fluttering Stars and Stripes and the president's grandiloquent words only disgusted him.

Sigh, let's try to win this opening match; the points from this game are quite substantial.

The ceremony concluded, and the whistle blew to officially begin the competition.

The first matchup can be considered a Chicago derby: Bulls vs. Timberwolves.

The Bulls are primarily a "talented" team, with each player possessing outstanding talent and solid skills. They were the first team to participate in the Chicago professional basketball league.

The Timberwolves are a gathering place for "heroes," whose members are mostly former gangsters and violent criminals. They play a fierce style of basketball and their eyes are filled with ruthlessness.

The game received media coverage across the United States.

The print media was spearheaded by The Sun, in conjunction with several national newspapers to cover the story.

The broadcasting rights are exclusively controlled by Voice of Liberty.

Radio is different from television. To attract listeners and create a vivid image of the game in their minds, the requirements for broadcasters are extremely high. In order to broadcast "Prison Basketball," Voice of Liberty began selecting promising broadcasters with good voices and strong performance skills as early as six months ago. They followed the team from the "Prison Basketball" draft stage to familiarize themselves with the basketball rules, the characteristics of each player, and even their "stories," undergoing months of closed training.

Today is the day to see the results.

At the start of the game, the Bulls players, with their significantly superior physical attributes and relatively solid fundamentals, moved like the wind and shot accurately, quickly taking control of the game.

With fluid passing and consistent mid-range shooting, the Bulls showcased their talent in all aspects during the relatively relaxed first quarter.

Among them, the most dazzling is undoubtedly the "Black Panther".

With a light crossover step, he changed direction, getting past the defender who was as still as a wooden stake. He lowered his body and charged like a cheetah. After two steps, he suddenly took off, with a noticeable hang time in the air, dodging the blocking player's block. His body stretched gracefully, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the basketball spun and bounced off the backboard into the basket!

Viewers listening to the live broadcast on Voice of Freedom heard the commentator excitedly shouting: "...Black Panther jumped! My God, he's flying through the air! Dodge! Pull back! Goal! Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!"

"Friends, it's such a pity you couldn't watch the game live. This is what true masters are like! Faced with absolute talent, hard work seems futile! Talent is an insurmountable barrier on the basketball court!"

In the stands, Mrs. Smith and her "talented" fans cheered: "Elegant! Absolutely elegant!"

Even Mr. Smith applauded frequently, praising this rare art of basketball.

However, in the second quarter, after adapting to the rhythm of the game, the Timberwolves made everyone understand the meaning of "heroic style".

They began to bring the "law of the jungle" that they relied on for survival to the field.

Hidden elbows during positional play, jersey-pulling during off-ball movement, concealed knee strikes on defense... every rebound scramble was like a wrestling match, every foul was accompanied by trash talk and provocative glances, gradually eroding the Bulls' advantage.

To ensure the smooth flow of the game, the referee will not blow the whistle frequently.

So, in this "fighting with basketball as a bonus" rhythm, the Bulls' technique began to distort, and they made more mistakes. The Timberwolves seized the opportunity to go on a run and take the lead.

Mr. Smith and other supporters of the hero faction were excited, and they collectively let out a "howl," further boosting the morale of the gray wolves.

Another commentator from Voice of Liberty seemed to be infected by this wildness, yelling into the microphone, "Whoa! Did you hear that? The sound of muscles clashing! This is what a man's sport is all about!"

"The Timberwolves! They showed their opponents the Chicago way: this is a city of heroes! Showmanship alone doesn't make you a master! Here, toughness is the only way to win!"

The atmosphere gradually became heated, and during a scramble for the basket, the Timberwolves' center made a clear "waist-grabbing tackle" that brought down a Bulls player.

Tempers flared instantly between the two sides, with pushing, shoving, and cursing erupting. More than a dozen burly men from both sides became entangled, and the basketball game was about to escalate into a full-blown brawl.

The Chicago audience at the scene displayed their unique spiritual beauty.

Regardless of which faction they had previously supported, faced with this sudden "extra round," they showed no fear. Instead, they stomped their feet rhythmically and in unison, shouting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

At that moment, something astonishing happened.

The two referees on duty—not burly, muscular men, but two lean, lean men—did not blow their whistles or try to mediate in vain. Instead, they swiftly and brutally entered the heart of the conflict, like tigers among sheep.

A referee sidestepped a Bulls player who was throwing a punch and landed a precise, short straight punch to his abdomen, causing the player to instantly curl up and fall to the ground like a shrimp.

Another referee delivered a low kick to the side of the knee of a Timberwolves player who was about to charge forward, and as the player lost his balance, he delivered a chop to the side of the neck, and the man fell to the ground.

The two referees acted cleanly and swiftly, almost one punch each, easily knocking down the players who had started the trouble and were the most hot-tempered!
The remaining players fled in panic, quickly escaping the area of ​​conflict.

The spectators in the stands stared wide-eyed at the two referees on the field, who appeared calm and collected, as if they had merely swatted a few mosquitoes.

Immediately, the commentator from Voice of Liberty roared in a voice almost cracking: "The referee... the referee has made his move! One punch KO! My God! What does it mean to be a master, a master, a master? You have to see our referees! They took on ten opponents at once, they're amazing!"

“Wow——!!!”

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in the loudest, most enthusiastic, and longest-lasting cheers, whistles, and stomping sounds since the start of the competition!
The audience was completely blown away by this unexpectedly simple and brutal "violent aesthetics"!

Inside the private room, Logan couldn't help but put his hand to his forehead and cover his face.

This is so damn prison-like!
Can you believe the MVP of the first half was actually the referee?!

God knows what strange and violent direction Wade Berrick and his gang have taken basketball in!

Damn, the president is watching; we can't let his blood pressure spike.

Logan couldn't help but look in President Coolidge's direction, and then he almost dropped his jaw in astonishment.

President Coolidge clenched his fists, and his usually calm face was flushed. "Yes! Yes! This game is fantastic! I love this game!"

Then, noticing the astonished looks on everyone's faces, he coughed lightly, composed himself, and pointed to the field below, which had just been violently controlled by the referee, with an expression that said, "I am very pleased."

"What I mean is, I see these are all 'experts' down there! Wouldn't it be much better to let these 'experts' vent all their excess energy on a designated court than to let them run rampant and harm society outside?"

"I believe the social value of this prison's BA is greater than most people imagine!"

Everyone looked like they suddenly understood, and they all said that the president was the real "master"!
"Your Excellency is truly wise!"

"How could we not have thought of this!"

"The president's perspective is truly unique; his vision is grand!"

Logan: "..."

I can tell that everyone here is a master!
……

(End of this chapter)